Risky Business

Despite the extreme measures that casinos take in order to prevent theft by both players and employees, not much time has to pass before there is a news story that outlines how at least one daring individual is attempting to rob the house blind. The latest story of theft takes place in the highly-popular world of Blackjack. Two dealers are currently being held in custody under the charge of theft that totals more than $500 in casino chips from Ge Vang of Fresno, CA. The suspects were captured on film perpetrating the theft on two different security cameras.

The two individuals have been accused of actually misappropriating the $500 worth of chips that have gone missing. Both of the suspects were actual Blackjack dealers at a different casino. Both individuals were employees of Palace Casino in Lemoore, California. The two first came under suspicion when casino security took note of the suspect methods that the players were using to conduct basic strategies in Blackjack play. The players were not immediately taken into custody. Instead, casino security reviewed the videotapes to get a closer look at the unusual behavior. The review of the tape revealed that one of the alleged dealers was placing chips into a single hidden pocket after they were passed on by the accomplice who was actually seated at the table. When the primary individual was actually taken in by security, officials discovered that they possessed over $2,500 dollars in stolen chips.

One suspect confessed to the crimes in addition to admitting to prior instances of casino theft. The suspect admitted to prior incidents in which chips worth up to $1,500 were successfully taken. Both parties eventually confessed to having taken over $5,000 in chips from various casinos throughout the area. The offenders themselves did not risk cashing in the chips. Instead, friends and family were coerced into participating in the crimes. The charges are being filed while the penalty for the crimes are yet to be released to the public. The vast majority of casino crime is actually caught through a combination of both human eyes and security cameras rather than only advanced surveillance technologies alone.